Town Hall raises the importance of public engagement with seabed issue

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — About one hundred people attended the Town Hall meeting on deep sea mining held Wednesday evening at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium.

The majority of speakers voiced strong opposition to any exploration or extraction of minerals from the ocean floor in waters near American Samoa. Concerns ranged from environmental risks to the potential disruption of cultural and marine ecosystems.

Still, some participants urged for a more balanced and informed dialogue — one that considers not only the potential harms but also the possible benefits of seabed mining.

The meeting opened with remarks from Governor Pulaalii N. Pula, who reaffirmed the unified stance shared by himself, Lt. Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae, Jr., Fono leaders, and Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata — their firm opposition to seabed mining in the territory’s surrounding waters.

He referenced the moratorium on deep sea mining activities issued by the previous administration in 2024, which called for a pause until more information could be gathered and adequate environmental protections were ensured.

Governor Pula noted that his administration reaffirmed this position in a public statement issued in June of this year, highlighting a continued commitment to precaution, preservation, and protection of the territory’s ocean resources for future generations.

"As Pacific islanders, our ocean is a lifeline and we do not take this issue lightly," Governor Pulaalii emphasized. "This Town Hall meeting is one of several steps our administration is supporting to ensure transparency, education and public engagement.

"The sole purpose is making sure that everyone has access to information, understands the process and has an opportunity to make their voices heard. Your voices matter not only here at home, but also in federal and international spaces where decisions are being made."

The governor urged the public to make their voices heard by submitting comments in response to the federal Request for Information (RFI) on the proposed seabed mining lease before the July 16 deadline. He emphasized the importance of civic engagement in shaping decisions that could impact the territory’s future.

It was also revealed during the meeting that the governor has formally requested a 30-day extension of the comment period from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). However, as of now, no official approval has been granted, and the July 16 deadline remains in effect.

Remarks from Lt. Governor Pulu — who was unable to attend in person — were delivered by Andra Samoa. In his message, the lt. governor warned against allowing external interests to endanger the ocean, describing it as a sacred inheritance and a gift from God that must be protected.

The meeting also featured a video presentation from a BOEM representative, outlining the agency’s role in overseeing leasing programs for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulfur on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The presentation detailed the review process and what steps follow the public comment period.

According to the presentation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received an expression of interest in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) minerals offshore of American Samoa from a U.S.-based company called Impossible Metals on April 8, 2025. The company submitted an unsolicited request for a lease sale in an area located near the territory.

BOEM evaluated the request and, in coordination with the Governor of American Samoa, initiated the preliminary steps toward a potential lease sale. The first phase in this process is the issuance of a Request for Information and Interest (RFI)—the stage currently underway — which includes an open public comment period specifically for American Samoa.

Once the comment period closes, BOEM will analyze the feedback, recommendations, and data submitted through the RFI. This input will help inform the next two key steps:

- Identification of Potential Leasing Areas: BOEM will determine which offshore areas may be suitable for leasing, based on public input and technical assessments; and,

- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review: A comprehensive environmental review will be conducted for the identified areas to evaluate potential impacts. The areas selected will be large enough to encompass potentially minable mineral ore bodies.

If BOEM decides to proceed, the next step would be the publication of a Proposed Leasing Notice in the Federal Register. This notice would outline the proposed sale procedures, stipulations, payment structures, and any conditions that would apply to the lease.

Following another round of public comment on the proposed notice, BOEM would then issue a Final Leasing Notice. This would include:

- A detailed description of the areas and minerals to be offered

- The bidding mechanism and auction format

- Final lease terms and conditions

If all these steps are completed, a competitive OCS minerals lease sale would be held under the terms specified in the final notice.

Dr. Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, Director of the American Samoa Resilience Office and Chair of the American Samoa Deep Sea Mining Task Force, delivered a comprehensive and informative presentation outlining the potential negative impacts of deep sea mining. Her remarks emphasized the environmental, ecological, and cultural risks associated with disturbing the ocean floor, reinforcing the task force’s precautionary stance.

"The deep sea is not an empty void," she stated. "It is home to fragile ecosystems, many of which are still undiscovered. These species grow slowly and once disturbed, their habitats may never recover. When we talk about environmental impacts of deep sea mining, one of the biggest concerns is what we call sediment or midwater plumes.

"In traditional means of deep sea mining like dredging, machines disturb the seabed with scraping or suctioning materials. This process releases clouds of sediments that don't just stay in one place., but can travel for dozens, even hundreds of miles carrying heavy metals and toxic materials.

"The plumes can smother coral reefs, disrupt migratory paths of tuna and whales and threaten the species we rely on. The sediment plumes can drift both upward and outward, impacting areas far beyond the original mining sites. This matters for our tuna industry, as tuna rely on clean open water to migrate and feed. These plumes threaten those pathways, especially where tuna actively hunt.

"Protected marine wildlife like sea turtles, whales, and dolphins are also at risk. Sea turtles need clean water to migrate and nest, whales and dolphins rely on sonar which can be disrupted by noise suspended sediment.

“Our coral reefs are already vulnerable and bleaching, if these plumes rise into shallow water, they can smother corals, harm young fish, and interfere with the spawning cycles of species like akule and palolo.

"In short, this isn't just about what happens in the deep of the oceans. These impacts could ripple out, harming our fisheries, reefs, traditions, and livelihood."

Dr. Suluai-Mahuka also cautioned that there is no guarantee American Samoa would receive any monetary benefits from potential leases or mining royalties.

She noted that the U.S. Department of the Interior holds the authority to issue leases and collect royalties, and warned that the territory could bear all the environmental and cultural risks without any binding agreement ensuring a share of the profits.

During the meeting, a question was raised regarding a statement in the BOEM presentation that the lease sale process was initiated “in coordination with the governor” following Impossible Metals’ request. Attendees asked whether the governor could withdraw his approval. However, Governor Pula had already left the meeting, stating earlier that his departure was intended to allow for open and candid discussion.

Responding to the question, Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde clarified that the process was not initiated by the governor, nor in coordination with him. Rather, it was triggered by an unsolicited request from an offshore company — Impossible Metals — seeking to initiate the leasing process.

She explained that under federal regulations, once a company expresses interest in a specific area, the responsible federal agency — in this case, BOEM — has the discretion to either issue a Request for Information (RFI) or deny the request outright.

“In this particular case, they decided to put out an RFI — that’s the 30-day notice,” said the Attorney General.

AG Tauiliili-Langkilde further explained that while the federal government — through the Department of the Interior — holds the authority to issue leases and collect royalties for any deep sea mining operations, the process does allow for public input, particularly when it comes to identifying potential environmental or cultural harm.

Dr. Suluai-Mahuka emphasized that the federal process can be halted at any stage, underscoring the critical importance of public engagement. She revealed that, as of the meeting, only 97 public comments had been submitted. Given the widespread opposition expressed by voters and residents on Facebook and other social media platforms, she stressed that this number was far too low.

“If it’s possible that our comments are weighed with so much worth — both in quantity and quality — then that may be one option to stop the process,” Dr. Suluai-Mahuka stated.

She added that another potential stopping point could be the identification of significant environmental harm.

“So you see,” she concluded, “the process can reach the point where a lease is granted, but it can also be stopped at any point along the way.”

Additional issues raised during the meeting will be explored in separate stories.